• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.107-117
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• 2024

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of the myofascial release and cervical traction after applying conservative physical therapy to patients chronic neck pain. METHODS: Patients were randomly divided into two groups, namely myofascial release (7 subjects) and cervical traction (7 subjects). Each group performed their therapy 45 minutes per day, two times a week, for four weeks. Pain intensity was measured using the visual analog scale (VAS). Function was measured with the neck disability index (NDI). The cervical range of motion (CROM) was measured with a cervical range of motion (CROM) goniometer. RESULTS: After four weeks of therapy, the VAS (p < .05) and NDI (p < .05) significantly decreased, and ROM significantly increased in both groups (p < .05). There were also significant differences between the two groups for these three measures, except for neck flexion and neck extension(p<.05). CONCLUSION: Myofascial release and cervical traction are more effective than cervical traction alone for reducing VAS and NDI and increasing ROM in patients with chronic neck pain.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.42-56
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• 2019

Background: Individuals with mechanical neck pain show biomechanical and neurophysiological changes, including cervical spine muscle weakness. As a result of deep muscle weakness, it causes stability disability and reduced upper thoracic spine mobility, which finally leads to functional movement restriction such as limited range of motion and dysfunction. Recent studies have shown that thoracic spine manipulation and mobilization could reduce symptoms of mechanical neck pain in patients. Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of thoracic mobility exercise on cervicothoracic function, posture feature, and pain intensity in individuals with mechanical neck pain. Methods: The study subjects were 26 persons who were randomly assigned to the experimental (with thoracic mobility exercise) and control groups (without thoracic mobility exercise), with 13 subjects in each group. The cervicothoracic function (neck functional disability level and cervicothoracic range of motion), posture feature, and pain rating (using a quadrupled visual analogue scale [QVAS]) were measured before, after 3 weeks, and after 6 weeks. Results: Statistically significant group-by-time interactions were found with repeated analyses of variance for the Korean neck disability index (KNDI), all cervical range of motion (CROM), all thoracic range of motion (TROM), cranial rotation angle, sagittal shoulder posture (SSP), and QVAS (p<.05). All groups showed significant improvements from all times in all the evaluated methods. The KNDI, CROM, TROM of left rotation, and SSP in the experimental group showed significant improvements after 3 weeks, and the TROM of the right rotation and QVAS in the experimental group showed significant improvements after 6 weeks when compared with the control group. Conclusion: Thoracic mobility exercise during 6 weeks might be effective intervention to improve the functional level, posture feature, and QVAS pain rating for managing individuals with mechanical neck pain.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.257-267
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• 2009

Purpose：The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of ultrasound and myofascial release in patients who have opening mouth limitation and temporomandibular disorder. Methods：Twenty students were randomly assigned to a myofascial release group(n=10) or an ultrasound group(n=7). Each group was treated for 15 minutes per a every treatment session for four weeks. Cervial range of motion(CROM) was used to measure cervical R.O.M., and a mm(millimeter) graduated ruler was used to measure opening mouth limitation. Results：Results of the follows : 1. The neck extension of range of motion of both groups was significantly increased in length of time (p<.05). 2. The neck flexion of range of motion of both groups was significantly increased (p<.05). 3. The quantity of opening mouth of temporomandibular joint of both groups was significantly increased (p<.05). Conclusion：These data suggest that myofascial release and ultrasound are beneficial to increasing a functional recovery of neck(flexion and extension) and opening mouth.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to compare the immediate effects of upper trapezius muscle stretching in more tensed position (MTP) and less tensed position (LTP) on the change of range of motion (ROM) for neck rotation, and the ROM for conjunct neck motions at end-range of neck rotation toward the painful side in patients with unilateral neck pain. Eighteen patients with unilateral neck pain were recruited for the study's MTP group, and 18 age-, weight- and gender-matched patients with unilateral neck pain were recruited for LTP group. The ROM changes in active neck primary and conjunct motions were measured using a cervical ROM inclinometer in the sitting position. Our results showed that both upper trapezius stretching method in MTP and LTP were significantly effective in increasing the ROM of neck rotation toward painful side in patients with unilateral neck pain. However, a significantly greater increase in the ROM for neck rotation and a further decrease in conjunct neck extension during neck rotation toward the painful side were shown in MTP group, compared to LTP group. The upper trapezius stretching in MTP is useful in increasing the ROM of neck rotation and decreasing the range of conjunct neck extension during neck rotation toward the painful side in patients with unilateral neck pain.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.88-97
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• 2024

Background: This study was to investigate effects of Correlation Analysis between Cervical-Vertebra Angle and Neck Range of Motion, Muscle Strength, Sternocleidomastoid Thickness of Patients with Forward Head Posture Design: Correlation Analysis. Methods: The subjects of this study were a total of 54 people in the forward head position and their ages were between 30 and 50 years old. The subjects cranio-vertebral angles, neck extension, neck flexion, neck rotation angles, neck flexor strength, neck extensor strength, sternocleidomastoid thickness were evaluated through measuring instruments. The thickness of the sternocleidomastoid muscle was measured using an imaging ultrasound diagnostic device (ultra sound, Versana Premier, GE Medical systems, China). CVA was measured by measuring the side photo of the subject was taken with a camera and evaluated.. neck joint range of motion was measured through digital inclinometer for extension, flexion, and neck rotation. neck muscle strength was measured by measuring the using a digital sthenometer. Data analysis in this study was statistically processed using SPSS version 26.0 (IBM SPSS Inc., USA). Correlation analysis was used and the statistical significance level was set at 0.05. Results: The results neck extension(r= 0.70^**), neck flexion(r= 0.67^**), neck rotation(r= 0.56^**), neck extensor muscle strengt(r= 0.85^**), neck flexor muscle strength(r= 0.66^**), sternocleidomastoid thicknes(r= -0.81^**) It indicates that there is a correlation. Conclusion:These results improve the Cervical-vertebra angle of patients with forward head posture should include a program to improve the thickness of the SCM. In the future, study can be used as an evidentiary material for treatment interventions to improve the Cervical-vertebra angle of patients with forward head posture.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.241-249
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of cervical stretching program on neck pain, fatigue and range of motion caused by overuse of smartphone. Methods: We treated stretching program to measure the pain, fatigue, and range of motion of the neck before and after cervical stretching program for experiment group (n=25), control group(n=27) nursing college students using the smartphone. The general characteristics of the subjects and the range of neck pain, fatigue, and cervical range of motion were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results of the cervical stretching program for neck pain, fatigue, and range of motion of the neck were analyzed using independent t-test. Results: After cervical stretching program, the pain of the neck(t=2.86, p=.006), fatigue(t=5.44, p<.001). flexion(t=-2.10, p=.041), extension(t=-2.84, p=.006), right lateral flexion(t=-2.4, p=.047), left lateral flexion(t=-2.05, p=0.46) and right rotation(t=-4.48, p<.001), left rotation(t=-3.38, p=.001) range of rotation were improved. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that a cervical stretching program can be used as an effective intervention for health problems in musculoskeletal disorders due to smartphone overuse.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.107-116
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of these clinical cases is to evaluate the effectiveness of Korean medical therapy on neck pain with cervical syringomyelia Methods : These are case reports on 2 patients admitted to Daejeon jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine with neck pain and diagnosis of cervical syringomyelia by Cervical spine Magnetic Resonance Imaging, were observed during hospitalization. They were analyzed according to pain and Cervical spine Range of Motion. All patients received a combination of treatments including Acupunture, Chuna, Pharmacopunture, Herbal medication. Pain scales(Number Rating Scale, Neck Disability Index) and Cervical spine Range of Motion were used during hospitalization. Results : After 3 weeks for these patients, Cervical spine Number Rating Scales decreased from 7 to 3 and from 9 to 4 respectively. And Trapezius muscle Number Rating Scales decreased from 7 to 3 and from 2 to 1 respectively. Also Cervical spine Range of Motion improved to the normal. Conclusions : Korean medical therapy might be effective in reducing pain and improving range of motion for patients with neck pain. And we hope this study further confirmed the effectiveness of Korean medical therapy on neck pain with cervical syringomyelia.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.39-51
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• 2022

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of neck and shoulder self-stretching exercise using audiovisual media on neck pain, postural alignment, and joint position error in women with chronic neck pain. Methods: The subjects included 20 women that gave consent to participate in the study voluntarily. They performed the self-stretching exercises using audiovisual media was carried out 20 minutes 5 times a week during 3 weeks. Neck disability index (NDI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) were used to measure the functional disability and pain, A pressure pain threshold was measured using an algometer, and a cervical range of motion (CROM) measurement tool was used to measure the range of motion and error of proprioceptive position sense of the cervical spine. To assess posture alignment, forward head angle (FHA), forward shoulder angle (FSA) were measured using image J software. Results: The neck pain intensity was statistically significantly within group (p<.05). Neck and shoulder functional disability were a statistically significant difference within group (p<.05). Splenius capitis and upper trapezius pressure pain threshold were statistically significant difference in within group (p<.05). The postural alignment was statistically significantly within group (p<.05). The cervical range of motion in neck extension, right and left lateral flexion were statistically significantly within group (p<.05). The joint position error in neck flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion decreased statistically significantly within group (p<.05). Conclusion: Self-stretching exercise using audiovisual media increased the mobility of the neck, decreased neck pain and joint position error, and improved posture alignment. As a result, there was a positive effect by applying the self-stretching exercise using audiovisual media to people with neck pain. Based on this, it is thought that it can be used as the basis for research related to home training programs for healthy self-management.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.41-49
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to acknowledge the effects that have the strength exercise done only on the neck extensor, only on the thoracic extensor, and both the neck and the thoracic extensor on forward head posture(FHP) and cervical range of motion. Also is to discover which of the exercise is the most effective. Method: This experiment will be done by selecting 40 people who have 16cm or more FHP and they will be divided into four groups: three experimental groups and a control group. The first experimental group will do only the neck extensor strength exercise(NESE). The second experimental group will do only the thoracic extensorstrength exercise(TESE) and the third experimental group will do both the NESE and the TESE. The experimental groups will make a day three times each ten sets of extensor isometric strength exercise but the time will be increased from 4 to 6 and8 seconds until it will be done the ten sets. Then after four weeks, they will be compared which had the best results for the FHP and the cervical range of motion. Result: After the experiment, it was compared the experimental groups with the control group. Every experimental group had an improvement on their FHP and cervical range of motion. However, the only NESE and the only TESE did not have a significantly difference(p>.05). Only the group who did both the NESE and the TESE had a sign ificantly improvement compared to the control group. Conclusion: 1. The only NESE and the only TESE seem that had a positive effect on FHP and cervical range of motion. However, it cannot be conclude that it is effective. 2. When both the NESE and the TESE are done, it is showed statistically a significant difference(p<.05) on FHP and cervical range of motion. The refore, it would be note worthy if this exercise is used to improve the FHP and the cervical range of motion.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.53-60
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• 2010

Purpose : Neck pain is commonly experienced by both adolescents and adults. The purpose of this study was to measure neck disability index(NDI) and the cervical range of motion(CROM) following spinal manipulation and mobilization techniques. Methods : Thirty participants(manipulation=15, mobilization=15) with mild neck disability volunteered for this study. It was used to measure NDI with NDI questionnaire and six motions(neck flexion and extension, left and right lateral flexion, left and right rotation) with the CROM instrument. Independent t-test and paired t-test were used to estimate NDI and CROM, and compared left with right motions. Results : A significant decrease in NDI were found after spinal manipulation and mobilization treatment(p<.05). A trend toward increase in all cervical motions(flexion, extension, left and right lateral flexion, left and right rotation), after interventions, were revealed(p<.05). The significant differences were not found on NDI and CROM between the group(p<.05). It was presented asymmetric motions in cervical lateral flexion(p<.05) before and after treatment. Conclusions : Our results suggest that manipulation and mobilization probably provide at least short-term benefits for patients with mild neck pain. It is needed to be studied the factors and preventive methods influencing the asymmetric cervical motion.